The just-launched iPhone 16e is the most affordable Apple-made smartphone out today, and an excellent choice for buyers on a tight budget. For $599, the new addition to the iPhone 16 family offers a modern design that’s years ahead of the iPhone SE it replaces, plus a surprisingly great single rear camera and long battery life.
Most importantly, the iPhone 16e has full support for Apple Intelligence — a comprehensive set of productivity and creativity tools that include generative AI and more sophisticated Siri with ChatGPT integration. Before the product’s arrival, you had to drop at least $800 for an iPhone 16 to get the advanced functionality. One of my favorite bits about Apple Intelligence is the option to discreetly access Siri’s vast, AI-backed knowledge with text commands.
The iPhone 16e, compared to the $200 more expensive iPhone, does not include the interactive feature at the top of the display that adds useful active app shortcuts. It was launched alongside the iPhone 14 Pro and all subsequent iPhone releases have it, except for the 16e.
The 16e also lacks MagSafe with fast Qi2 charging, and a multi-sensor camera with a hardware control button. The cheaper iPhone’s battery life is longer, however.
Save for the camera control button, last year’s iPhone 15 offers the above features the 16e lacks for $100 more. However, its A16 Bionic chip is a couple of generations behind (think no Apple Intelligence) and its battery life is shorter. I’d take the iPhone 16e over it.
Review: iPhone 16e